Benson’s hand moved to his sword. I was astounded his patience had lasted this long, already, but I couldn’t let him kill the guildmaster yet. I didn’t want to be labeled a murderer. It would make doing business and researching harder, after all. If she vanished under the cover of night, though, I wouldn’t complain. I may suggest something like that to Benson later. He does have the secondary profession of [Assassin], too. I have never been a staunch believer in the sanctity of human life, after all. Some people, I genuinely believe, are better off dead.
I caught Benson’s sword-hand, stopping it from drawing the blade, and met his eyes with a firm look. His expression, when he met my gaze, softened immediately.
“Yes, Mistress,” he said with a forlorn sigh, realizing I didn’t want him to kill the annoying one. The guildmaster continued to grab files and other things from her office, not once realizing I had just, effectively, saved her life.
“Tonight, Benson,” I said softly, “Tenia will be my sole guard. You will have ‘business’ to take care of.” I even motioned my head towards the guildmaster who was currently fiddling with a geographic survey. Unfortunately, my subtle hint didn’t seem to reach the Lion-man. He raised an eyebrow in confusion so I simply ushered him towards the door while muttering, “I’ll tell you later.” I made certain to grab my staff on the way out.
Finding Tenia, compared to the meeting with the Guildmaster, was actually rather easy. She was currently in front of the Magician’s Guild with an elderly man in white robes. The white-robed man was holding onto the piece of White Lodestone I had handed over. Susan was trailing behind the pair. It seems they were on their way to the Adventurer’s Guild.
“Mistress!” Called Tenia as she rushed to my side.
“It’s been a few hours, Tenia,” I said with a grin, “I’m assuming this man here is Carindal Reyes?”
“Yes. He’s the Vice-Guildmaster for the Magician’s Guild,” replied Tenia. "He’s also extremely interested in both my magic and the White Lodestone piece you sent over.”
“Interested in what manner?” I asked.
“The magic here is very different from what we know. It’s as if it’s an entirely different system. I have learned two new spells already, showing that it is possible for us to learn this magic, but I have been unable to teach the Cardinal any of my spells at all.”
“So he’s interested in ‘our’ magic system?”
“Yes, very much so.”
“And what about the White Lodestone?” I asked.
“Ah, he’s actually seen mineral deposits similar to it-”
“I always assumed it was chalk,” interrupted the old man. His voice was quiet but clear. He adjusted his white-colored hat before continuing, “I originally had a theory that this area of the Thrush was once underwater. We’ve found fossils and other strange records… Ah I’m going off track, anyways I never bothered to study the white stone so I never noticed its mana conductivity levels. It was something our researchers have always overlooked!”
“So there is more of the White Lodestone here?” I carefully asked.
“Yes! By the Goddess Asenth, there’s wagonloads. The deposits are formed in the sediment layer about 30 feet down.”
I couldn’t help showing the excitement on my face. If possible, I wanted to set up a [Gate] at every major city. Being able to move around this world faster meant being able to follow up on leads and improve research capabilities. It was a massive step forward in my goals! It took me nearly a full ten seconds to calm down and organize my thoughts.
“The Guildmaster wants to have a meeting in about an hour’s time at the Merchant’s Guild,” I said, regaining my composure. “I wish to purchase White Lodestone in great quantities from this town.”
“If you wouldn’t mind, Young Miss, but what exact uses do you have for this mineral?” Asked the Cardinal.
“It’s used in all manner of craft and such,” I replied, “but it’s mostly useless to anyone without the proper skill levels.”
The Cardinal frowned at my reply before saying, “I understand that much, but it would greatly help my analysis process if you could tell me something specific about it instead.”
“You intend to study the White Lodestone?” I asked.
“By the Goddess Asenth, yes! Just knowing it has advanced uses in foreign countries means it must have some amazing properties. I’ve already discovered its mana circulatory powers and I can feel a terrible strength hidden deep within it too. Not to mention how exciting it will be when I bring it up at the Grand Assembly in three months!” The Cardinal’s breathing was growing a bit heavy.. “Our Theocracy of Hidet has always struggled in foreign trade due to our lack of specialized exports. Outside of Farrier’s horses and the Capital’s forges, we have very few regional specialties that we can use in barter with the rest of the world at large. We have nothing like Heesaw’s Sugar or Terran’s Silks. New Hidet has helped tremendously with spoils from the labyrinth, but if this White Lodestone is as useful as you claim it is… Just imagine how great it could make our country!”
The Cardinal’s fervor was a bit overwhelming, to say the least. The look in his eyes seemed to be pleading for me to teach him how to process and use the White Lodestone… But I genuinely had no intention on giving him a handout of that level. Merely informing him of the mineral’s usefulness was enough. I’d be willing to sell the refining processes, though.
“What is this Great Assembly you mentioned?” I asked.
“Grand Assembly,” corrected the Cardinal, “and it’s the annual gathering of the Church’s higher Clergy to discuss the state of the union.”
“So all the bigshots in this part of the world would be there?” I asked.
“Yes. High level merchants and powerful nobles will be in attendance as well, though many often use lobbyists rather than show up in person. Only the Clergy are guaranteed to be there themselves,” replied the Cardinal.
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“Have you talked with Tenia about the types of magic I’m interested in?”
“Yes, she mentioned you were looking for transportation, summoning, and dimensional related magics. A strange lineup of study, if you ask me, but I’m certain you have your reasons. I’m no help, since my specialties are in Holy, Healing, Light, and Earth magics,” said the Cardinal with a dejected tone.
“Then, would the people at this Grand Assembly have information on the types of magic I need?” I asked.
“I’m certain someone would be able to help you in your pursuit of knowledge… Are you implying a trade?” Asked the Cardinal with narrowed but thoughtful eyes.
“Yes. I am proposing a trade of knowledge. What I know about White Lodestone, including processing and refining... for the information I want.” My thoughts weren’t hard to understand. Even if they knew the processes and effects of the White Lodestone, it’d be near impossible to find someone with the proper skills and technique to actually make use of it… Unless one of the ‘other’ top crafters of Xternity were sent to this world, it would be very unlikely. It was just too high-classed of an ingredient.
“This subject is a bit too political for the streetside, Young Miss. Why don’t you and I have a nice chat in my office while waiting for the meeting with Kelding to start?”
“That sounds lovely,” I said as I shook the old man’s hand.
We walked to his office and discussed the matter of the Grand Assembly for about a full forty minutes. The Cardinal wanted to make a big presentation for it. He’d raise his own ranking within the church due to his contributions that way and, in exchange, he’d help me find the information I wanted too. We were on the same wavelength with thoughts of mutual benefits. Tenia and Benson sat to my side and remained silent, never saying anything or adding to the conversation. Their specialties were more combat oriented, after all. I was the one dealing with the negotiations, crafting, and price setting back in the game days.
The time for the meeting with Kelding came faster than I had anticipated. The Cardinal, Tenia, Benson, and I left for the Merchant’s Guild with high expectations.
Kelding’s office was, despite his own size, large enough to accommodate everyone in the meeting. It honestly didn’t take half the time I expected. With Reyes’ knowledge, my input, and Carolyne’s offer of laborers for the mine, we made a plan of attack rather quickly.
Tenia, Reyes, and other members of the Magician’s Guild would bore the initial mine on the Southern End of Golden Thrush town, away from the majority of the good farmland. The Adventurer’s Guild would provide laborers and miners, consisting of low ranked commissions, and I would be the priority buyer of White Lodestone at a discounted price for bringing the information about it forward.
Kelding himself was rather amazing. His capacity and business sense were almost otherworldly as he quickly established plans for relaying ore to the Capital Hidet as well as setting up adventurer guards along the way. He even drew up a profit plan based upon the information I provided him. Considering the quantity of Lodestone, he even predicted potential price drops due to overinflation and underuse due to lack of skilled refiners.
I would be given the most advantageous price of 100 ‘G’ per 100 Sich, their main unit of weight. 100 Sich was considered the average weight of an adult male in this world. I wasn’t certain how it’d translate into Kilograms due to my lack of reference. What kind of man was used for the average, anyways? If it was Northland men then the average would be much higher than if they used the Terran Orientals. It was such a bad system without any standardization at all.
The outgoing rate for others would be 500 High Marks per 100 Sich. Selling in smaller units would have a price markup of 20%, but allow smaller transactions that normal smithies or enchanting offices could afford.
The Cardinal himself even realized a few basic uses of the Lodestone without my help. It was perhaps the best enchanting powder actuator in all of Xternity, which would give a massive increase to enchantment duration and durability.
I withheld all of the more ‘proper’ uses of the Lodestone, but even without them the mining operation would probably turn a large profit.
When we finished establishing our plan, our first thought was to rush over to the mine site and survey it. The people in town turned to stare as a gaggle of the most influential people in this part of the country walked down Main Street.
We arrived at the site Kelding and Reyes had picked out. It was an overgrown field and looked to have been abandoned for many seasons.
“So the Lodestone is 30 feet down?” Asked Tenia.
“Yes,” replied Reyes. “The vein here is quite large and extends for quite a ways.”
“I can’t believe this brat is really turning our small farming village into a mining town,” Mumbled Kelding off to the side.
“Everyone, stand back,” said Tenia with a smile as she began circulating such a large quantity of mana that I could feel it tainting the air.
“By the Goddess Asenth…” said the Cardinal under his breath as everyone moved away from the tiny black-haired woman in goofy mage robes.
The earth began to shake as dirt started to bubble upwards in the center of the plot. Mice and birds evacuated the small overgrown field in huge quantities and, in response, the halfling jumped into Benson’s arms.
“Mice!” Kelding cried. Benson dropped him.
“You can’t be serious, Kelding?” I asked, slightly bewildered.
“I hate mice,” he replied.
Tenia’s spellcasts continued tearing the very earth asunder. The air itself seemed to form into a drill as rock, stone, and silt were tossed aside with ease.
“This magic,” whispered the Cardinal, “It’s incredible.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet, Cardinal Reyes,” said Benson with a toothy grin.